Resolution of racemic 1-azido-3-aryloxy-2-propanols by lipase-catalyzed enantioselective acetylation

Kinetic resolution of racemic 1-azido-3-aryloxy-2-propanols la-g was performed using supported lipase of Candida antarctica-B (Novozym(R) SP 435) in toluene at 4 degrees C with isopropenyl acetate as the acyl donor to afford the optically active (S)-alcohols 2a-g and their corresponding (R)-acetates 3a-g with E values from 56 to 72, (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.